CHARACTERS: B/A, W/O, X/A, C/D
SUMMARY: Buffy's having trouble finishing one of her books.
Rating: R or a strong PG-13 for suggestive words and actions.
DISCLAIMER: Wish they were mine, but until my wish comes true, I guess I'm just going to have to borrow them.
SPOILERS: None other than for my Bliss series. You don't really have to read them to know what is going on, but I always like people reading my stuff.
FEEDBACK: Of course.Please? It gives me a happy, and definitely makes me write faster.(hint, hint)
DISTRIBUTION: Just ask, and I'll most likely give.
NOTE: The previous stories in the series can be found at my site: .
NOTE2: I know this has been a long time in coming, but RL sucks right now, and I'm trying to write my stories, as well as archive others (which probably won't happen until summer break).so just pray the next one comes faster.

"Baby? You home?" Angel called as he shut the door behind him.

An angry, frustrated sigh preceded the appearance of his wife, looking extremely harried. Her hair was in a loose ponytail, and she was wearing one of his old dress shirts he used to paint in, over baggy jeans. "Shoot me now."

Angel tried not to laugh at her look, drawing closer and rubbing his hands down her shoulders to her hands. "What's wrong?"

She grimaced and moved away from him down the hall into the kitchen. The area around the breakfast nook was littered with crumbled sheets of yellow legal pad paper. "This is."

He flashed her a confused look. "What's going on?"

"My editor called. She loved the first part of my new book."

"That's great." Angel smiled proudly at her, but then frowned in confusion. "Then what's wrong?"

Buffy sat heavily in her chair, propping her chin on her hand. "She wants the book out in late September. Meaning that my final draft needs to be done in two weeks."

"How much do you have done?"

"Most of it; that's not the problem. I can have it done by then. My problem is I'm not sure how to finish it."

"Maybe I can help? What's it about?"

"Us."

"Us?"

"You know how my series is loosely based on my being the Slayer?" Angel nodded, although not quite understanding where the point was. "Well this one is based on our romance. You've been introduced a few times in the other books, and Mira wanted it built up. So the issue is, do I leave it happy or sad?"

Angel sighed, somewhat understanding. Crouching in front of her, his hands resting on her knees as he looked up at her. "How do you feel about it?"

"I want it to be true. I try and keep everything as true as possible. And I'm truly happy now. It just doesn't seem real to me." She sighed, avoiding his gaze. "I still wake up every morning afraid this is all a dream."

"You don't think I do? Love, it's understandable. We've been through too much to simply accept something. You'll figure this out. It doesn't have to be exactly as done."

Buffy nodded slowly, closing her eyes tiredly.

"How long have you been agonizing in here?"

"Mira called just after you left. I guess since I hung up with her."

"You've been here since 10 this morning? Buffy, its almost 6!"

"Is it?"

It was Angel's turn to sigh as he stood, pulling Buffy from her seat. "You are done for the night. Go upstairs; take a long bath, maybe a nap. I'm going to clean up here, and then I'm going to get some take out and a video. How does that sound?"

"You're terrific. I like the way your brain works," she replied, stretching to capture his lips. "No romance, please."

He laughed as she pulled away. "So noted. Requests for dinner?"

"Thai? Or maybe Korean?"

"Sounds good. All right. I'll take care of that, go take your bath."

"Won't you join me lover?"

Angel grinned, swatting her backside a s she brushed past him. "I would, but we'd never get fed."

*****

Angel balanced the bags as he shouldered the front door open. The house was silent, and he quietly shut the door with his foot. Heading back toward the kitchen, he almost missed Buffy, curled up on the rec. room couch. Smiling, he continued to the kitchen, dishing the cartons of food into serving bowls and placing them into the oven to keep them warm.

Moving from the stove, Angel grabbed the two comedies he'd rented, and headed to the rec. room. Being as quiet as possible as he entered, to avoid waking Buffy, he put the tape cases on the entertainment center shelf, before studying his wife.

She was curled up on the couch, dressed in lounge pants and a tank top. Her long blonde hair was still damp from the humidity of the bath, and she'd pulled it back with a ribbon. Her beautiful face was relaxed by sleep, and a small smile played at her lips. Crossing the carpet, he gave in to his desire to kiss her. Kneeling on the floor beside her head, his hand reached out to smooth a stray piece of hair. Keeping his hand on her cheek, he leaned closer, pressing a kiss to her lips. He began to pull away after a short moment, but was surprised as Buffy's arms reached up to wrap around his neck and pull him back down for another kiss.

He groaned as the kiss intensified, and he moved from his kneeling position to beside her on the couch, one leg moving between hers without breaking their embrace. The kiss kept on going, even as one of Angel's hand moved under her tank to gently caress her smooth stomach. One of her hands was tugging at his shirt, and she broke the kiss to growl in annoyance at the row of buttons.

Angel grinned and laughed, halting any further proceedings before she ruined his shirt by ripping it apart. "I thought you didn't want any romance tonight."

She grinned back at him, a coy look in her eyes. "I was talking about the videos, lover."

Angel smirked at her, propping himself up on one elbow beside her as the hand that had previously been under her shirt to cup her cheek. "As much as I want to continue this, let's keep with our regularly scheduled program."

He was rewarded with a bright smile as Buffy nodded. "Did you get the food?"

"Thai. It's in the oven warming."

"Yum. Okay, I'll get the food and you can go get more comfortable?" She lowered her lashes, dragging one blue nailed hand down his chest.

Pressing a kiss to her forehead, Angel moved off of her and stood up, heading to the stairs to go up and change out of the clothes he'd worn into Joyce's gallery that day. He came back down less than 10 minutes later, dressed in a black wife beater and sweatpants, his feet bare, to find their take out dinner set up on the coffee table in front of the couch, the pillows from the couch laying on the floor. Buffy appeared a moment later behind him, carrying a bottle of sparkling cider and two glasses.

"Hello, lover."

Angel arched his brow. "Don't think I'm not appreciative, I am," he paused, taking a deep, controlling breath. "Extremely."

Buffy smirked, staring pointedly. "I see." Her seductive look dissolved, and she laughed. "Relax Angel. I want you, and you want me, but you're right. I think I'm too hungry to think of anything else right now anyway. I don't remember if I even had lunch."

****

Buffy took one last bite of her Panang Curry and swallowed, savoring the delicious flavors. Leaning back against the couch, she snuggled deeper into Angel's arms as Mel Gibson blew up various buildings on the screen. "Mmm. This is nice."

"You're a simple woman to please."

"Yup. Just give me good food, Mel Gibson on the television, and my husband. Perfect." Buffy looked up at him and smiled before resting her head on his shoulder.

"I love you," he whispered, before bending his head to take her lips in a kiss.

After an extended embrace, Buffy pulled away, her cheeks flushed and her eyes glazed with passion. "Uh, Angel, you know my idea about no romance?" Angel nodded, his eyes just as passion filled and not trusting his voice to speak. "Well let's stick to no romance and go for mind blowing sex."

Angel growled in reply and pounced on her, pining her to the floor with his weight, as they both forgot about the movie playing on the screen.

****

Angel shifted on the floor, slightly uncomfortable in the space between the table and the couch. Buffy murmured something unintelligible in her sleep, as she snuggled up closer to his body. Faintly he realized that the video had run its course, and the TV was showing a blank blue screen. Buffy stirred then, and her head lifted, her hazel eyes meeting his gaze. "Comfortable?"

She shifted suggestively against him. "Very."

"What do you say we move this upstairs?"

"Mm, well, I'll meet you up there."

Angel recognized the look in her eyes. "Buffy, what is going through your mind?"

"Well, I had an epilepsy."

"An epilepsy?" She's lost him.

"You know, when you suddenly get an idea, and everything becomes clear?"

He laughed, pulling her closer. "I think you mean epiphany."

"That's what I said. Anyway, I think I know how to finish my book."

"That's fantastic!" his face broke out into a wide grin. "Are you going to tell me what you're going to do?"

A mischievous smile slid over her face. "Uh uh. You're going to have to wait along with everyone else and read my book."

Go to the next story Soulmate; A Bliss Interlude

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